DePaul hosts Valparaiso Saturday afternoon

The DePaul Blue Demons (1-4, 0-4) return to action Saturday for a nonconference clash with the Valparaiso Crusaders (3-7, 0-2 MVC) at Wintrust Arena.

For DePaul, the name of the game at this point is just getting games on the schedule regardless of opponent. The Blue Demons are perhaps the nation’s most snakebitten team with regards to COVID-19. DePaul had to pause their season before the season even began, then had two more pauses, wiping out virtually their entire nonconference slate before opening the year with a win over Western Illinois on December 23. In the time since then, DePaul has had three Big East games called off due to COVID in the other program, with those three being St. John’s, Villanova, and Georgetown.

The season is already precarious and frustrating as it is, but to have this continual added frustration can’t be easy for the Blue Demons.

Saturday’s game should be fun for DePaul’s Javon Freeman-Liberty. Coming into Saturday as DePaul’s leading scorer on the season (14.2 PPG), Freeman-Liberty transferred to the Blue Demons this past offseason after spending his two previous seasons at Valparaiso.

Of Valpo’s three wins this year, just one has come against a Division I opponent, as the Crusaders have struggled to find consistency on offense.

How to watch or stream

Time: 3 p.m. CT

TV: FS1

Stream: FOX Sports Go